Lord Jagannatha's Ratha-yatra is a chance for everyone
to taste the joy and variety of spiritual life.
You've never seen anything like it! Unless of course, you've been to one before. Ratha-yatra, the festival of the chariots, is an ancient celebration that draws our hearts away from the distractions of temporary material life and back to Krsna, our original, eternal friend. Ratha-yatra gives us a taste of the happy life we're all looking for.
It's chance to absorb our senses which, with their insatiable demands, bind us to material existence in spiritual life. Our ears fill up with the holy names Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna , Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare; our eyes gaze on the colourful chariots with their billowing canopies, the exhibits, the entertainment, and the people so many happy people who've come for a day with Krsna; our noses catch the wafting fragrances of incense and flowers; and our tongues delight in the sumptuous feast of krsna-prasadam savories, sweets, succulent vegetables, and more.
And we learn something at Ratha-yatra. We learn not just theoretically, but practically, if we allow ourselves that real happiness comes from remembering God and serving Him in the way He likes best: by hearing and chanting His names. We learn that spiritual life isn't dry renunciation. Spirit is alive, and spiritual life is real life, life without the grit.
Taste it for yourself. The next time Ratha-yatra comes your way or even if it's out of your way don't miss it. Come, join in the celebration, and spend a day in the soothing light of Krsna consciousness.